The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-14
Louisville CoUrier-Journdl, expresses
the Southern sentiment on the matter
in the following vav.

Louisville C0Urier-Journdl, expresses
the Southern sentiment on the matter
in the following way:
| Nobody in the South, certainly no Southern
| State and no Confederate soldier, cares a
| nickel whether the battle-fisgs are returned or
not. II there is a single soldier in the North
who would retain them as trophies he is well
come TO all the glory and all the display which
| they can recall TO his mind or bring to
his heart. To us they mean nothing whatever
Assuredly, they betoken no greater loss on the
side OF the North than on that OF the South,
and, to a sound and healthy understanding, it
| is inconceivable how their possession can be
matter Of moment or concern to any patriotic
BOSOM As well might we rejoice in the pres
ervation and exhibition of the bloody phars-
phernalia Of the hospital or the rotting cere-
ments Of the grave.
All OF which is very sensible. The
South has no need of the battle-iags.
We have said that they should be kept
as mementoes of a mighty struggle.
Perhaps it is better that they should rot
away in the vaults of the War Depart
ment. Perhaps the sooner they rot the
better. So far as we are concerned we
have no use for them, one way or the
other, preferring to turn our minds to
the victories that Peace has, no less
than War.
1t has been the history of mankind
in general, and no less of modern man,
that the issues of the present have
been less poten than the issues of the
past. Humanity is always genera
ton behind its own interest. We
boast of the progress and the discoy-
cries of our age. So did our fathers.
But why did their fathers, and why did
ours, leave so many things to be dis
covered? Because they were always
fooling away their time on just such
ancient out-Of-date nonsense as this
battle-fag cutlery.
If half the thought and energy that
has been bestowed on Il victory already
securely won had been devoted to the
new conquests needing, and sadly
needing to be won, the world would
be much further advanced than it is
to-day. But it seems the fate of human
beings to be always excited about
every thing else except what concerns
them. For this reason more than any
other they groyel and toll and suffer.
The moment they learn some sense
and forget all about war and its follies
and agonies they will begin to prosper.
and the prosperity will become gener-
al. What is the matter with Europe
to-day? Every nation there is imbued
with exactly the same instinct. and no
other, that animates the Republican
party of this country. 1t is the in
stinct of war. This war feeling leads |
to big armies. and big army expenses.
The reuslt is that the industrious toiler
is crushed to the earth.
On this side the war feeling does not |
result in big armies, because it is so
plainly evident that they are not need |
ed. But it disturbs our politics. and
leads to their being cast on lines en-
tirely inconsistent with the best inter-
ests of the country. Instead of think
ing about the matters of to-day we are !
kept constantly in agitation about the
matters of n generation
ago. Greater folly could not even be
dreamed of.-Des Moines la. Leader.